2015-08-26_ENFORCEMENT - 0

IL Authorities
This MOU is based on the following authorities:
A. Department of Energy
i) 10 C.F.R. Part 760, "Domestic Uranium Program"
ii) Public Land Orders (PLOs) 459, 494, 565, 698, 779, and 1495
B. State of Colorado
i) Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Act, C.R.S. § 34-32-101, et seq.
ii) Mineral Rules and Regulations of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board
(MLRB) for Hard Rock, Metal and Designated Mining Operations 2 C.C.R. 407-1
I 11. Statement of Mutual Benefits and Interests
A. Because DRMS and DOE have certain legal requirements in regulating surface and
underground exploration, mining operations, and reclamation, it is deemed advisable for
DRMS and DOE to coordinate their respective regulatory responsibilities.
B. DOE manages the leasing of withdrawn lands in western Colorado for the purpose of
mining uranium and vanadium ores as established under various Public Land Orders.
Mining activities include exploration, mine development, mineral extraction, and
reclamation.
C. Under Colorado's Mined Land Reclamation Act (MLRA) and Mined Land Reclamation
Board (MLRB) implementing regulations, no person may legally conduct mining or
prospecting operations in Colorado unless a reclamation plan has been submitted to and
approved by DRMS, and financial assurances for reclamation have been approved by
DRMS.
D. There are differences in federal and state statutory and regulatory requirements governing
mining and reclamation of mining operations. Interagency coordination will be necessary
in the preparation of joint environmental documents, reclamation plans and permits,
Plans of Operation (PO), and financial assurance cost estimates in order to minimize
duplication of efforts by mining operators and prospectors on ULP lands (hereinafter
referred to as Operator and/or Lessee). The scope of a PO required under DOE
regulations is similar to the scope of a reclamation plan required under the Colorado
MLRA and its implementing regulations. The term "Permit/PO" will be used herein to
mean a document that satisfies both DRMS and DOE requirements for mining on DOE
controlled lands in Colorado.
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